Last Saturday, Lower Sixth students studying Art and History of Art visited Paris on a trip to explore the city’s iconic cultural sites.

At the Centre Pompidou, a favourite amongst the students, we saw some of the city’s most renowned contemporary art, with works by Chagall, Duchamp, Pollock, and Dali. Witnessing some of the pieces we had studied in class come to life was particularly poignant, offering a genuine experience beyond the confines of a computer screen. Following a lunch featuring French delicacies and a leisurely browse through Parisian thrift stores, we marvelled at the Sainte Chapelle, which was especially memorable for its expansive stained-glass windows. Finally, after a walk through the city’s romantic river seine (though not so romantic when dodging giant puddles of murky river water) we arrived at our final destination, the Musee d’Orsay. Situated in a converted railway station, the museum featured renowned impressionist and post-impressionist artworks. Among the bustling crowd, the Van Gogh collection emerged as a standout, which, once we navigated through the throng of phone-wielding photo enthusiasts, was both beautiful and evocative.

Overall, the trip was an immersive experience, bringing our studies to life and creating lasting memories.

Anoushka, Lower Sixth